Biblical truth is the substance of gospel work, so the early believers “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Divine love is the motivation of it and joy is the strength of it, and thus we “preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph 3:8; see also 2 Cor 5:14). “Justification and sanctification […]
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 Jn 4:1). Here’s the irony of the situation. The people who wrote the letter to Artaxerxes to convince him to stop the building project in Jerusalem didn’t even belong in the Land. And they had not emigrated by choice; they […]
CHRIST our COMPANION: “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Heb 13:5). Harner Middleswarth writes: My eight-year-old daughter and I were driving through the unfamiliar streets of the city to which we had recently moved. I was turning here and there without any explanation to my child. Finally, she looked […]
“As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him” (Ps 103:13). In his book At the Sixtieth Milestone, W.Y. Fullerton tells the story of a Christian lady, Mrs. Cobley, who visited Leicester Infirmary with flowers and words of truth and comfort. On one occasion, a young doctor greeted her with […]
The town of Crimond in Scotland is remembered for two things. It was the home of Jessie Seymour Irvine, daughter of a local minister. She composed the haunting melody which has borne the words of Psalm 23 out of the Scottish Psalter all round the world. Many a soul crossing over to The Other Side […]
“Hate” has four letters, but so does “love”; “lying” has five letters, but so does “truth.” Write wisely. Normally it’s impolite to read someone else’s correspondence. But in this case, it’s encouraged. The Spirit included these written communications “for our learning” (Rom 15:4). I wonder if the authors of these letters might have said some things differently […]
CHRIST the OBEDIENT ONE: “By one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19). Oh how vital was the obedience of the Lord Jesus! We read with amazement, “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Heb 5:8). Not in heroic self-will did He go to Calvary: […]
“My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word” (Ps 119:28). Who hasn’t sagged at times under life’s loads? You’ll notice that David doesn’t ask for relief from the heavy burden, but for greater strength to carry on. But how exactly does God strengthen us through His Word? John Newton explained the situation: […]